My attention was drawn today to a Japanese manga image which had been described as “Racist”. I thought initially it was no more racist than something by the brilliant artist Joe Sacco, though the manga picture is based on a young girl who is clearly not smiling in the original photo. There is, though, a hint of a smirk in the manga. I assumed this was style or something.

It seems to me that this is our moral duty and our responsibility as a civilized country. More than that, we must ensure that the Referendum on the EU does not get bogged down, as was the last election, by a debate on immigration. The refugee crisis is set to continue for many years whether we are in or out of Europe and we will miss the opportunity to effect major change and reform in Brussels, or indeed to quit the EU project and forge alliances across Europe independently.

1) We cannot allow racists and bigots to hijack the debate. 2) we need to lead the way in promoting a proper response to the victims of war. 3) our doors must always be open to people in need.

オリジナルの宣伝（advert）では、こんなことが日本語で書かれていたらしい。

This is what the original advert said in Japanese apparently:

“I want to live a safe and clean life, eat gourmet food, go out, wear pretty things, and live a luxurious life… all at the expense of someone else,” reads the text on the illustration above. “I have an idea. I’ll become a refugee.”

The artist, Toshiko Hasumi removed the picture after a campaign by a Change.org. It is the text that really causes offence here, rather than the image. But once the text is clear, the image itself takes on a new identity- the girl is too aware, she smirks too much. It is deeply disrespectful.

「それでも私は、何があっても謝りません」

と、ハスミ氏は言う。「日本とは違って、海外では自分の過ちを認めたら必ず法廷闘争で負けるからです。」

“But I will not apologize no matter what,” she said. “Because unlike in Japan, you’re destined to lose in a court battle overseas once you’ve admitted to your fault.”

The photographer said it was a “shameful misrepresentation of the plight of the Syrian people” and that he was “Shocked + deeply saddened anyone would choose to use an image of an innocent child to express such perverse prejudice,”

This is a start and I know many of my Japanese friends are keen to see more done to help in the crisis. Also, of course, Japan is right to support the countries most affected.
しかしハスミトシコには、疑問符のつく行動が見られる。とくに二次大戦中、日本に訪れた朝鮮人女性について、相当ネガティブなことを書いてきた。

Toshiko Hasumi, however, has a record of questionable behaviour and has apparently written fairly negatively about Korean women who came to Japan especially during the 2nd World war.
救いは、日本でこのことに対する怒りが爆発したことだった！

Thank God there has been outrage about this in Japan!

(here is another Japanese counter-image)

Original post by: Tim Wilson

Translated by: Office BALÉS

Meanwhile here is another image that I am working on – The owl and the pussycat, having travelled in the Pea-green boat for so long, seek sanctuary in the land where the bong tree grows.

I am a bit cautious about using the image of the small girl, even in an attempt to refocus the debate or to undo the nastiness of the original. I think this debate should have its own mascot. Any ideas welcome!